Drying apparatus for sheet-metal-plates.



C. WAGNER HORMEL. DRYING APPARATSIFOR SHEET METAL PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. i4. T9l8.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEETI mum c. WAGNER & A. HQRMEL. i DRYING APPARATUS FOB SHEET'METAL PIATES.

APPLICATION man sPT.\4.19\. Patel-1M LI-1919"'- C. WAGNER & A. HORMEL.ll 'DATING APPARATUS PoR s'HEET METAL PLATES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-14.|918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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T IT TH T K. x .33kg

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Patented 1F01). 4, 1919l C. WAGNER & A. HORMEL.

` nRYTNG APPARATUS PoR SHEET METAL PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED S-EPT I4, |918.

Patented Fb. 4, 1919,

5 SHEETS-SHVEEI' 4.

C. WAGNER & A. HORMEL.

DHYING APPARATUS FOR SHEET METAL PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. |918.

1,293,26 1 Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WAGNER', 0F GRANTWOOD, NEW JERSEY, AND AUGUST HORMEL, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

DRYING APPARATUS FOR SHEET-METAL PLATES. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4l, 1919.

Application led September 14, 1918. Serial No. 254,149;

To all whom, z't may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES WAGNER and AUGUST HORMEL, both citizens ofthe United States, and residents, respectively, of Grantwood, in thecounty of Bergen and State of New Jersey, and New York city, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Drying Apparatus for Sheet-Metal Plates, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus of novel construction, moreparticularly adapted to dry the print on tin plates, such as are used inthe manufacture of sheet metal cans, bottle caps and various otherarticles of merchandise. The apparatus is intended to be used inconjunction with the press which prints lsuch plates, and should beopcratively connected thereto in suchv a manner, that after a plate isprinted it is automatically conveyed to and carried through theapparatus so that-it is delivered from the latter, ready for the market.

The invention consists in the various features of novelty more fullypointed out in the specification and appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying our invention;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an enlarged vertical section of both ends of the apparatus, online 3 3 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 4, a left land end elevation.;

Fig. 5, a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, an enlarged sectional plan, along line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7, an enlarged section of upper conveyer and gripping chain, online 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a section on line 8 8, of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9, a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10, a plan of the gage;

Fig. 11, a detail of one of the flanged links of the upper conveyerchain;

Fig. 12, a detail of one of the outer gripping links of the grippingchain;

Fig. 13, a detail of one of the inner gripping links' of said chain;

Fig. 14, a plan of the conveyer chain; Fig. 15, a section on line 15-15of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16, 'an elevation of the conveyer chain;

Fig. 17, a plan of the gripping chain;

Fig. 18, a cross section thereof on line 18 18 Fig. 17, and

Fig. 19, an elevation thereof. The apparatus comprises an elongatedcasing formed of a metal fraine 1, a sheet iron covering 2, and anasbestos lining 3, which constitutes a poor heat conductor. The casingis closed on top, on two sides and at one end, while it is open at theother end. This open end is ada ted to receive the wet tin plates P,while t e dried .plates are delivered through openings 4 formed in thesides of the casing in proximity to such open end.

Within the casing are mounted two upper vparallel endless conveyerchains A and two llower parallel endless conveyer chains B. Chains Aturn on sprocket wheels 5 and 6, fast on shafts 7 and 8' respectively.Of these, shaft 7 receives motion in suitable manner from a power shaft9 which is so driven from the printing press that during the printing ofeach plate, the chains are advanced for a distance necessary for thereception of such plate. As shown, shaft 9, by chain drive 10, shaft 11and worm 12, drives worm wheel 13 fast on shaft 7. Shaft 8 is mounted insuch a manner that the tension of chains A may be readily changed. Tothis effect, the shaft is mounted in slidable bearings 14, engaged byset screws 15 that are tapped into nuts 16 resting. against perforatedabutments 17.v After the bearings have been adjusted, they are locked inposition by nuts 18, threaded on studs 19 that depend from the bearingsand pass through slots 20 of brackets 21, which are aiiixed to the wallsof the casing.

Chains A are supported intermediate shafts 7 and 8, by longitudinalrails 22, 23, 24 of which ralls 22 are located underneath the upperchain runs, while rails 23, 24 are located respectively above and belowthe lower chain runs. The rails are carried by brackets 25, aiiixed tobeams 26 that extend across the casing.

The lower chains B engage sprocket wheels 27, 28, fast respectively onshafts 29 30, of which shaft 30 should be located a distance beyond thecorresponding shaft 8 of the upper chains A. Shaft 29 receives motionfrom shaft 7 by chain drive31 and gear wheels 32, 33 of which wheel 33is mounted on shaft 29, both chains being driven with like speed but inopposite directions. Shaft 30 is adjustably mountedsimilar to sh aft 8,for the purpose of setting the tenslon of chains B, lthe drawing showingthe slidable hearings 34, set screws 35, nuts 36, abutments 37,4 andnuts 38. Chains Bare also similar to chains A, guided on longitudinalrails '39, 40, 41, carried by brackets 42 which are mounted ontransverse beams 43. Between the rear ends of chains A, is interposed athird pair of endless parallel chains C, which chains have for theirob]ect, to transfer the lates P from chalns A, to chains B, at t e rearturn of chains A, and to firmly grip such plates while such turningmovement takes place. Chains C engage sprocket wheels 44, 45, mountedrespectively on a shaft 46, and on the shaft 8 of upper chains A, sothat the chains A, C maintain 4 their correlation during all adjustmentsof shaft 8. The latter passes loosely through a pair of brackets 47, inwhich are slidalblv mounted the bearings 48. of shaft 46, such bearingsbeing adjustable by set screws 49, so as to change the tension of chainsC. Brackets 47 are tiltable on shaft 8, 1n order to slightly raise orlower shaft 46, and thereby alter the dip of chains C, so as to insuretheir proper coaction with chains A.

T0 effect this result, brackets 47 are provided with toes 50 into whichare tapped, set screws 51, resting on elbow plates 52 which are adjustably secured to a cross beam 26, by means of bolts 53.

In order to raise plates P oii chains A and deliver them to chains C,there are provided,

a pair of rails 54 that extend a distance along the paralleling parts ofsuch chains. These rails are adjustably connected by bolts 55 t0 beam26, and are provided with upwardly inclined sections or risers 56 andwith raised treads 57 beyond such risers. From the lower sides of treads57, depend lugs 58 resting on a sleeve 59 that encompasses a shaft 60,mounted in brackets 47. Upon this sleeve rest, likewise, the upper runsof chains C so that during all adjustments of the brackets, the relativeposition of rails 54 and chains C is maintained. Shaft 60 is hung atsuch an elevation above shaft 46 that an upward slope is imparted torails 54, and also to the chains C for the purpose of raising treads 57a distance above chains A and thus permitting plates P to drop fromchains A upon chains C.

The/ casing may be heated in suitable manner. As shown, it is traversedby a multitude of perforated pipes 61 that constitute burners andreceive gas from supply pipe 62. The burners pass through invertedU-shaped hoods 63, which effect a uniform diffusion of the heat.

The construction of chains A is more fully shown in Figs. 11, 14, 15 and16. It consists of sleeves 64, mounted on bushings 65,

through which pass pivot pins 66, carrying `connecting links 67. Pins 66protrude at the axes of pins 66 as centers, so that the overlapping angesections of adjoining links are concentric and permit the turning of thelinks around .the sprocket wheels. Every pai-r of opposed notches 70, ofthe two Chains A, engages the Shanks of inverted U- shaped wire carriers71 that are looped around pins 66 as at 72. The carriers bridge thespace between the two chains and cause sheets P to 'be taken along bythe latter.

Chain B is an ordinary link chain, and requires no further description.`

Cham C is more fully shown in Figs. 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19. It iscomposed of a series of members, each of which is formed of sleeves 73turning on bushings 74, which are mount-ed on pins 7 5. Adjoining pinsare connected in pairsby links 76 to form one of the chain members. Pins75 protrude beyond links 76 at both ends, and upon the protruding ends0f each member are mounted a 4pair of gripping links 80, having a pairof outwardly deflected jaws 82, such links being apertured as at 81 forthe reception of pins 75. Upon the adjoining pins of each adjoiningmember-pair are mounted additional gripping links 77 that overlap links80 and are Aapertured as at 79 for the accommodation ofthe pins. Links77 are provided with a pair 0f inwardly directed jaws 78 so that, owingto the overlapping arrangement of the links, each of the jaws 78 will beopposed to a coperating jaw 82. While chain C is in a horizontalposition, each pair of cooperating jaws will be spaced from each otherto form gaps 83 for the reception of the lower edge of plate P, but whenthe chain makes a turn around its sprocket wheel, the jaws will closeupon the plate, and carry it along with it, during the entire arc of theturn. When this turn ceases, and the chain resumes its horiozntalposition, the jaws will again open to release the plate, and dropitu'pon chains B. In order' to increase the gripping effect or reach ofthe jaws 78, 82, spacing links 84 are interposed between links 77 and80, said links 84 being mounted upon the pins 75 of adjoining chainmembers.

Upon shaft 7, is mounted, a pair of pulleys 85, against which the platesP abut, when introduced into the apparatus, and upon which they rideuntil they are made to assume a vertical position. In order to chains A,there are provided, a pair of gages ,.-86 fianking the latter at theingress end of j 8'2 of chains C. As the latter make the turn v theapparatus. These ages are fulcrumed at 87, and are oscillatedy a cam 88of shaft 7 against which they are held by a lspring 89. rlhus as thegages rock on their fulcrums, they will have a-tendency to engage theends of plates P and push them into a centered position. l

Plates P are by the printing press, delivered to conveyer belts 90which4 carry them to belts 91 that in turn push them between a pair ofcarriers 7l and against pulleys 85. The carriers, 011 rising, w1ll turnthe plates into an upright position and convey lthem by chains A, towardthe rear end of the heated casing. When the plates encounter rails 54,they will be raised by their elevated treads 57,- ofi' chains A, anddropped into the open gaps 83 for-med by the jaws 78,

around their sprocket wheels 45, the jaws will close upon the plates, soas to grip and hold them until the turn is completed, after which thejaws will open, so as to drop the plates on lower chains B. Should anyone of the plates be missed by the rippers, it will be taken around theturn y carriers 71, a dropping of the plates, during this movement, bemgprevented by a curved shield 92 arranged concentric to' shaft 8. ChainsB will carry the plates back toward the front of the drier, during whichtravel, they are properly spaced and held in an upright position, by thecarriers 71 that depend from the lower runs of chains A1 and move in thesame direction as the upper run of chains B. When the plates arriveopposite openings 4, they will be thoroughly dried and in condition forremoval. o

It will be seen that during the travel of the plates through the drier,they will be sustained in position and spaced from each other by thewire carriers 71, which thus prevent the paint from rubbing ofi'. Byusing separate upper and lower conveyer chains, and intermediategripping chains, overloading of any one chain system is eiectivelyovercome, which is a matter of importance for the reason thatl the tinplates are collectively of considerable weight, which would be apt toquickly wear or break the chains, when overburdened. The apparatusoperates automatically, and when timed to work in unison with theprinting press, will effect a delivery of the printed and dried sheetsready for the market.

We claim:

1. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, an upper endless conveyer, alower endless conveyer, said conveyers being adapted to directly supportsaid plates, means for moving said conveyerssynchronously in oppositedirections, means for transferring said `verted U-shaped carriers thatplates from the upper conveyer to the lower conveyer, and a plurality ofcarriers mounted on the upper conveyer and adapted-to project from thelower run thereof, toward the upper run of the lower conveyer.

2. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, an upper endless conveyer, alower endless conveyer, said conveyers being` adapted to directlysupport said plates, meansfor moving said conveyers synchronously inopposite directions, a chain having a plurality of grippers and adaptedto transfer said plates from the'upperconveyer to the lower conv veyer,and a plurality of carriers mounted on the upper conveyer and adapted toproject from the lower run thereof toward the upper run of the lowerconveyer.

3. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, an upper conveyer, a lowerconveyer arranged a distance below the upper conveyer, said conveyersbeing yadapted to directly support said plates, a sprocket wheel, achain having a turn on said wheel and adapted to transfer said platesfrom the upper con* veyer to the lower conveyer, and jaws on said chainwhich are adapted to automatically close upon said plates at said turn.

4. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, an upper conveyer, a lowerconveyer arranged a distance below the upper conveyer, said conveyersbeing adapted to directly support said plates, a sprocket wheel, a chainhaving a turn on said wheel and adapted to transfer said plates from theupper conveyer to the lower conveyer, jaws on said chain which areadapted to automatically close upon said plates at said turn, and aplurality of carriers mounted on the'upper conveyer and adapted toproject from the lower run thereof toward the upper run of the lowerconveyer.

5. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, a pair of parallel conveyerchains having sleeves, pins passing through said sleeves and protrudingtherefrom, links connecting the pins, additional overlapping notchedlinks likewise mounted on the pins, and inare engaged by said notchedlinks.

6. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, a pair of parallel conveyerchains having sleeves, pins passing through said sleeves and protrudingtherefrom, links mounted on the protruding ends of the pins, said linksbeing provided with overlapping concentric iianges, and with notches.intermediate said flanges, and inverted U-shaped carriers passingthrough said notches and looped around the pins.

7. In a dryin apparatus for metal plates, a pair of para lel conveyerchains having sleeves, pins passing through said sleeves and protrudingtherefrom, links connecting the pins, additional links mounted on thepins, said last named links being provided with overlapping concentricfianges and with notches intermediate said flanges, and invertedU-shaped carriers passing through said notches and looped around saidins.

S. In a drying apparatus for lneta plates, an upper conveyer chain, alower conveyer chain, a gri ping chain adapted to transfer said )latesroux the upl er conveyer chain to the lower conveyer c lain, saidgripping chain describing a curved path, and means for raising saidplates from said upper conveyer chain into engagement with sald grippingchain.

9. In a. drying apparatus for metal lates, a pair of conveyer c ains, apair of gr pping chains arranged sidewise of said conveyer chains, and apair of rails having risers and elevated treads, said rails extendingalongside said conveyer chains and gripping chains.u

10. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, a pair of conveyer chains, apair of.

gripping chains, a shaft, sprocket wheels onl said shaft that areengaged by said chains, brackets tiltable on the shaft, bearingsadjustably mounted in'said brackets, a second shaft hung in saidbearings, and sprocket wheels mounted on said second shaft and likewiseengaged by the gripping chains.

11. In a rying apparatus for metal plates, a shaft, a pair of bracketsmounted thereon, means for tilting said brackets, a rail having a riser,a support on said brackets that is operatively engaged by said rail, aconveyer chain, and a gripping chain, said rails extending alongsidesaid chains.

12. In a drying apparatus for metal.

plates, a shaft, a pair of brackets mounted thereon, means for tiltingsaid brackets, a rail having a riser, a conveyer chain, a grippingchain, anda support on said brackets that is engaged by' said rail andsaid gripping chain.

13. In l a drying apparatus for metal plates, a shaft, sprocket wheelsmounted thereon, a conveyer chain and a gripping chain engaging saidsprocket wheels, a pair of brackets mounted on the shaft, bearingsmounted in the brackets, a second shaft hung in said bearings, sprocketWheels on said second shaft and likewise engaged by the gripping chain,a rail having a riser, and a support on said brackets that is en'- gagedby said rail and said gripping chain.

14. In a drying apparatus for metal' plates, an endless rip ing chain,proyided with a first series o 11 s, a second serles of links thatoverlap the first named links, and

opposed jaws on said first and second series of links.

15. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, an endless gripping chainprovided with a first series o links, a second series of links thatoverlap the lfirst named links, the links being rovided with opposedjaws, and spacing 11n s inter osed between the first and second series olinks. l

16. In a drying apparatus 4for metal plates, a pair of endless upperconveyer chains having notched flanges, a plurality of carriers engagingsaid flanges, a pair of endless gripping chains having jawed. links andextending partly along the conveyer chains, a pair of lower conveyerchains, and means for moving the upper and lower conveyer chains inopposite directions.

17. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, a pair of endless conveyerchains having notched flanges, a' plurality of carriers engaging saidflanges, a pair of endless grip ing chains having jawed links andextendlng partly along the conveyer chains,

`and a pair of rails having risers and extending along -the conveyerchains and the gripping chains.

18. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, a pair of endless upperconveyer chains having notched flanges, a plurality of carriers engagingsaid fianges, a pair of endless lower conveyer chains, means for movingsaid upper and lower chains in opposite directions, and a pair ofendless gripping chains having opposed jaws and interposed between therear ends of the upper and lower conveyer chains.

19. In a drying apparatus for metal plates, a pair of endless upperconveyer chains having notched flanges, a plurality of carriers engagingsaid flanges, a pair of endless lower conveyer chains, means for movingsaid upper and lower chains in opposite directions, a pair of endlessgripping chains having opposed jaws and interposed between the rear endsof the upper and lower conveyer chains, and a pair of rails havingrisers and extending lalong the upper conveyer chains and the grippingchains.

